Miraj – In The Pocket

Broccoli Rabe Records (US) [BR-14-1-2051] 1984

This track was written and produced by Charles (Chuck) McPherson Jr. aka Miraj with some help from Brian Drago, Jimmy Bralower and Lee Shapiro (The Four Seasons) aka The Broc Team.

Charles is the son of alto jazz saxophonist Charles McPherson who recorded many albums for Prestige, Mainstream Records, etc and has been a member of jazz groups such as the Barry Harris Quintet, Charles Mingus Sextet, Lionel Hampton & His All Star Alumni Big Band as well as his own Charles McPherson Group, etc.

Charles Jr. began his career as a member of funk soul group Brother To Brother, joining for the recording of their second album, before joining the in-house band at Sugarhill Records where he played drums for The Sequence, Funky 4+1, West Street Mob, etc. He moved on to the Broccoli Rabe studios as a producer and rapper and recorded this track as Miraj. He also recorded under the name Shahid (‘1984 Future Shock’) and produced the track ‘For You My Baby Love’ by The Gents, a group that morphed into 90’s R&B group Today.

There are a couple of label variations for this release which are pictured below. The promo release only has 2 tracks and plays at 45rpm but the general release has 3 and plays at 33⅓rpm.

Promo Release (45rpm)

Side A

In The Pocket (Re-mix) [5:33]

Side B

In The Pocket [5:33]

General Release (33⅓rpm)

Side A

In The Pocket [3:55]

Side B

In The Pocket (Short Version) [3:55]
In The Pocket (Instrumental Remix) [5:33]